Apparatus for recutting files by electrolysis.



No. 637,33.. Patented Nov. 2|, 1899.

s. wlcKs.

APPARATUS FOB RECUTING FILES BY ELEGTBDLYSIS.

(Application tiled July 10,. 1899.)

v(No Model.)

a S Q 1 A \A Y \V nun u l L v \\L\. Y c A ATTEST Ni-Tnn VSfrrtrnfs4SAMUEL WICKS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR REouTTlNG FILES BY ELEoTRoLYsls.

SPECIFICATIoN farming part or Letters meent No.637,313, dated November21, 1899. Application led .Tilly l0, 1899. Serial No. 723,329. (Nomodel.)

To all whom', t may concer/vt:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WIOKS, a citizen of the United States,residing atCleveland,in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for RecuttingFiles; and I do declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in means for recutting files byelectrolytic action, all substantially as shown and described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a vertical sectional elevationof my improved apparatus, showing a series of iiles in the bath andpresumably subjected to a current. Fig. 2 is a perspective elevation ofan end section of the apparatus, showing certain details thereof, ashereinafter fully described.

A represents a suitable tank which is provided with aoid-proof lining ctof lead or the like, and is adapted to receive the acid solution orelectrolyte. It may be of any preferred size and adapted to any size offiles.

In the operation the files I5 which are to be resharpened become theanodes by connecting with the positive pole of an electric battery orother source of electricity-say such as shown in diagram in thedrawings-and the rods C of carbon or the like, which are shown here aspartially pocketed in the wall of the tank, become the cathodes byconnecting them with the negative pole of the source of the current.

The electrolyte within the tank normally has a feeble and slow actionupon iron and steel, except when under the influence of an electriccurrent, when it then becomes more rapid and caustic. The particularelements of this electrolyte may vary according to circumstances, andthey may be composed of either acids or alkalies.

The preferred electrolyte is sulfuric acid, which may be more or lessdiluted with water.

As many of the rods or cathodes C as may be desired can be used, andthere may be as many as there are files, more or fewer, and all arepocketed in the wall of the tank after `perforated lead shield cincloses them.

the manner shown especially in Fig. 2, and a The resistance and theconsequent chemical action to cut all the files uniformly is more orless governed by the number of rods used, the pocketng of the same alsocontributing to this end.

, The shields c provide protection for the files and prevent anypossibility of the files and rods C from coming into contact throughaccident, overcrowding, or otherwise.

The cathodes C are all suspended from a metallic or other suitableconducting-frame D, which in this case consists of rods supported byposts d or their equivalent on the tank and having the elements Csuspended therefrom in electrical connection. The wire 2 from thegenerator E passes to this frame, while the opposite wire 3 goes to theseveral anodes or liles B. The said elements or files B are shown hereas suspended by a spring'- p'ressed clamp 4 from an insulating rod orbar 5, which is secured at its ends to the frame F, erected upon thetank and adapted to carry the switch mechanism for the files, a separateswitch G being used for each file and supported upon the horizontal barf of the frame F. The switch Gconsists of two contact members g and g,iixed, respectively, to the bar F and Yto the metallic strip f', whichruns alongon the top of said bar and to which the wire 3 from thegenerator is attached. The upper member of the switch Gr, therefore, isclamped on the said strip f', while the lower member is attached to thewooden or other like non-conducting-barf,and a switch proper, 6, havinga finger extension to control it, is rotatably secured to the lowermember in this case and adapted to contact with the upper member whenturned on to establish the current through the file. Connection is madeby a wire 7 between the switch and the clamp 4, which suspends the file,so that through these several parts a complete circuit is establishedand connection upon the iile in the solution is edected.

Each Elle has its own switch, and the support 5 for the files isprovided with a clamp 8 at its ends, adapting it to be adj ustablyattached to the bar j", so that it can be raised or lowered, accordingto the length of the file to IOO be treated. The clamps 4 are providedwith hooks to engage the rods 5 and are easily detached when necessary.

What I claim isl. In an apparatus for recutting iles electrically, meansto support the tiles singly and separately, means to adj ust said iilesto any depth desired in the electrolyte, cathode members supported andsuspended Within pockets in the Walls of said apparatus, and electricalconnections for said files and cathode members, substantially asdescribed.

2. An electrolyte-tank having pockets in its Walls, perforated shieldsabout said pool;- ets, cathode members supported and suspended withinsaid pockets, adjustable means to support and suspend tiles in lineWithin said tank, and electrical connections for said cathode membersand les, substantially as described.

3. An electrolyte-receptacle for recutting files electrically havingpockets in its Walls and shields c open tothe electrolyte aboutsaidpockets, cathode members suspended Within said pockets and electricallyconnected to the negative pole of a source of electricity, in combination with a supporting-frame for the tiles vertically adjustable, andelectrical connections for the files leading from the negative pole ofthe source of electricity, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for recutting files electrically, an adjustablenon-conducting support for the iles, whereby they may be raised orlowered in the bath according to size, a clamp for each file on saidsupport, a separate switch for each tile and an extensible connectiontherefrom to the said clamp, substantially as described.

5. The liquid-receptacle and the electrodes in the Wall thereof, incombination with a frame across the receptacle and a conducting-stripalong the top thereof, an adjustable file-support on said frame, atwo-part switch having one part fixed to said frame and the other partengaged on said conducting-strip, and an extensible electricalconnection from the switch to the file-support, substantially asdescribed.

Witness my hand to the foregoing specification this 24th day of June,1899.

SAMUEL WICKS.

Witnesses:

H. E. MUDRA, R. B. MOSER.

